THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 30, 2022

Minjee Lee

Mission Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Minjee Lee at the Chevron Championship. Just played nine holes in a pro-am. How are you finding Mission Hills this year?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, the conditions are really, really lovely. There was no wind this morning. Just the greens are in really great shape. The grass is -- you know, the rough is probably not as long yet, but I think it's going to be a great turnout.

Q. This is a golf course you played well at before. Had a decent finish in 2017; had a decent finish in 2020; both Top 10s. How comfortable are you with this style of golf course?

MINJEE LEE: I think it's a ball-striker's course, so I think as long as you're driving it well, you have good iron shots in, you're going to have pretty good looks for birdie.

At parts of the course it is quite tight, so I think having good iron accuracy and driving accuracy is a real big help around here. I think that's where I have good strengths in my game, so I feel quite good around here.

Q. We were just looking at your numbers. You got 3.01 in strokes gained approach right now. You're killing the field. What have you been working on with your ball striking that has helped in the approach shots?

MINJEE LEE: You know, I feel like I've always -- that has always kind of been my strength. Just over the past few years I've been really working on my technique, and actually mostly just getting bit more length on my drives.

But I think it's sort of helped overall parts of my game, so that was -- that's probably been the biggest thing for me.

And I've actually been working more on my short game, which I think maybe lacks a little bit in comparison to my long game.

Yeah, hopefully it all comes together this week.

Q. Where did you find that extra distance off the tee that's made such a difference for you?

MINJEE LEE: Definitely just better technique and in the gym. You know, I've been over the off-season hitting it really hard in the gym and I like working out over the course of the year, so I think that's where I really gained some of the distance.

Q. We know Mission Hills is a ball-striker's golf course, but it definitely rewards those with a good short game.

MINJEE LEE: Oh, yeah, for sure.

Q. What have you been working onto prep yourself? Every once in a while you might miss a green. What have you been working on to prep yourself for some of those tricky short game shots around here?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, just around the green it's a little bit longer, like the rough, so I think I've just been doing a little bit more work, just my short kind of rough shots and a bit more of my maybe 5- to 10-foot putting.

I think that's what I've mostly been working on.

Q. Finally broke through last year at the Evian; won a major. How different do you feel coming into this year's major season as a major champion?

MINJEE LEE: To be honest, I don't really feel too much different as a person. I feel the same, but I think golf-wise I'm just a little bit more confident I think in just myself and in my game; just a little bit more belief there I think.

Something that I probably don't really think about too much, but it's just a little bit more subconscious. Other than that, I don't feel too much different. (Smiling.)

Q. Probably a good thing. So far this season you've had a T2 at HSBC Women's World Championship; T12 at Honda. How good are you feeling about your game heading into this week? I know we played a little bit of a different California course last week.

MINJEE LEE: I feel pretty good. I've been striking it really well. I think my putting is coming together just with the little tweaks I've done this week; hopefully it's going to be a great week.

Q. What have you been working on on your putting in particular?

MINJEE LEE: Just a little more on the roll. I think just from last week it's been bouncing around a little bit, so I think just to get a bit more trust that it's rolling on the right line and seeing the breaks a bit better, which is much easier on this type of surface.

Yeah, that's what I been doing.

Q. How do you switch your mind? I mean, having played on poana myself, like you know how much it's going to bounce.

MINJEE LEE: Right.

Q. You have to come out and here and you're like no, no, I can hit it that direction, because that is the way it's going to roll. Is it tricky to change your brain?

MINJEE LEE: I think what Inbee said last week, I don't think you can take it personally. You never know where it's going to bounce on poana greens, so it's just a little bit different mindset.

When you come here you know you're going to get a good roll and you know you're going to be able to read the breaks much better, so I think it's just not -- I mean, you can't really think too much about last week, and moving on coming into this week.

Q. Are you a player that typically likes to play the week before a major?

MINJEE LEE: I do. I think most majors I played the week before.

Q. And just kind of being here, I know everybody is going to talk about it's the last time at Mission Hills, last time in this area.

MINJEE LEE: Yep.

Q. Obviously great new partner in Chevron, but I know a lot of people have described this week as bittersweet. How are you feeling about the final time in the desert?

MINJEE LEE: It's beautiful here. I think we've been really fortunate being here for so long. But with Chevron coming as a partner, I think -- I do think history is very important, but I think the growth of the LPGA and the women's game is even more important.

So I think it is a little bittersweet, but going in the right direction and in a good direction, so I'm excited for the future.

Q. First year back really with fans on site in totality.

MINJEE LEE: Right.

Q. How much more fun does this place feel with that presence here?

MINJEE LEE: It's just like the atmosphere is totally different. When you hit a good shot you're going to get claps. I think it's just so different. Like even the mood of the place is -- I think it's just a bit more buzzing with people all around.

No, it's really fun and it's great to have people out and about.

Q. Speaking of that, we just had major champion and Chevron Championship winner, Lorena Ochoa, in the press room a little bit ago.

MINJEE LEE: Yeah.

Q. There is a lot of Hall of Famers, past champions of this event hanging around. Have you seen anybody this week, and how cool is it to have all of those like historic bodies manage this one place?

MINJEE LEE: Right. I think Patty Sheehan was watching us on the 17th hole yesterday, so that was pretty cool. I think she's been driving around watching people, so that's been cool.

I haven't seen Lorena yet. I've only met her once. I would like to see her. Say hello.

Q. What was at that meeting like?

MINJEE LEE: Patty or...

Q. Lorena.

MINJEE LEE: I actually played with her at the -- I didn't play a her, but I met her at the Korean event. It was one of -- yeah, it was one of those events, exhibition match kind of tournament.

It was cool. We just kind of talked about just random stuff; not much golf.

Q. Do you have any people like that are kind of in that company that you look to for advice, all that kind of stuff out here?

MINJEE LEE: Definitely like Webby is the closest I think kind of person I think I kind of ask questions mostly to. She hasn't been around too much this year and last year, the last couple years, so more just through text.

But it is nice when we can chat one-on-one or face to face. But, yeah, probably Webby.

Q. And then final question. Obviously one goal this week.

MINJEE LEE: Right.

Q. To be the last person to jump into Poppy's Pond. Other than that, what are some of your goals for the year's first major?

MINJEE LEE: I think just hitting every shot when I'm 100% ready. I think that's just my goal as a golfer. You know, just trust the process, trust in myself, and trust that I made the right decision each shot.

So that's my goal. And obviously jumping into the pond.

THE MODERATOR: Hopefully we see you do that on Sunday. Good luck.